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frifjfowjw -urn langpng ,JWWl&pw-&fr - " me, dear," said Minna. "It's that fun ny speckled strawberry isn't 1t? r noticed ifthis morning." "Yes, my dear," answered John in a choking voice. "And please remember that it Is to be preserved very care' in jl pot, and Price was to convey t to a greenhouse, and It was, in snort, a remarkable con spiracy against one poor strawberry. Thursday was the day set for the experiment, and on that afternoon fully." But though he seemed calm rPrice came to tea. Minna made them enough he was angry1 with Price. What right had the old fogy insinuat ing that Minna was He knew why he was angry. Price had suggested that Minna was men tally slow. And John knew it was true. Pretty Minna Hilton was not an intellectual woman, though she made none the worse wife for that. "All right, Johnny," answered Min na. "But I really think you might have waited till after dinner. How ever, I know how interested you are In the garden." She turned on her heel a little huf fily and John surmised thatshe had seen Price's nudge. Minna was not very fond of Henry Price; she toler ated him for her husband's sake. "John," said Price,, as he stood at the door, saying good-by, "I'm sorry "If I accidentally" "on, that's ail right, Old man," an swered John. His good humor was completely restored-by that time; he never bore grudges very lo&g. "But, John," persisted Price, "for heaven's Bake don't Bay a word about it to anybody. You understand,' don't you? if the story got about, what with the interest in Bergback's ex periments, our garden would be racked fine as a toofhcomb on the first dark night John, you have a fortune In that single plant" Certainly it did seem as though the only" safety lay in absolute silence. The single fruit was invaluable. Berg)-1 blUsively that the blended strawberry would produce fruit only from the seed, not from the runners,. And there had been only one fruit thus grown. have tea before coine into the ear- den. But both men were tod much absorbed in thought to eat much. In vain Minna tempted them with her scones and cakes. "Won't you try a little more ofmy jam?1' she asked'JPrice coaxingly. "You know, it was you and, Johnny who are responsible for it" "How is that, my dear?" John asked. .. i "Why, I've made it iroto the best fruit in the garden," she Answered, "and I put the blended Strawberry in, just as you told me " "What?" yelled both men in chorus. "Dear me, how excited you both are," said Minna loftily. "Didn't you tell me, Johnny, that It was to 16 pre served carefully?" . "? "You you put the Btrawberry the Btrawberry in that -jam?" inquir ed John Hilton, gazing at his wife stonily. -. s "Yes, JohnnyV Wasn? that right?" "Oh, yes, it was rignfenaugh," re- Slied her husband. "Only well, you ave lost us a fortune, Minna, that's all." Henry Price glared at the poor wo man and then, without a word, dash ed out into the hall and thrUBt on his hat. A moment later the garden gate slammed to behind him,. This sound, indicative of his final departure, relieved the tension of the situation. Minna put her head down upon her folded arms. John, rose up awkwardly and came behind her and put his arms about her. "Nevermind, dear," he said. "It was my fault and you couldn't have The fruit was to be plucked as care-1 known. Ill try again, Minna. Don't fully as tnougn it were tne last hair cry!" from the Biiddha'8 head, and placed The tears were" streaming down m&mmj. ,...mm,jK,.,j immr:..